Fiber



R D T N E V N I (No Model.) 2 Shets-8heet 1 W. s. ARCHER.

PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBER, WOOL, &0. Noi 283,846. Patented Aug. 28, 1883 N. PETERS, Fholo-Lilhwgnphar, Washington. 5.;

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

W. S. ARCHER.

I PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBER, WOOL, &c.

No. 283,846. Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

- ATTORNEY N4 PEYERS, Phalo-Lkhognphlr. Watilillglon. D. c

. Unrrnn STATES PAT NT Urr'ica,

\VILLIAM S. ARCHER,

OF N EV YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBER, Vi/OOL 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,845, dated August 28, 1883. Application filed June 28, 1883. (No modelJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM S. ARCHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Machines for Separating Fiber, 001, Cotton, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in machines for separating cotton waste, fiber, wool, hair, &c., its obj eet being to separate the finer and better grades of the material from the coarser elements. In the treatment of cotton I am able to take what is known as the waste and so clean and separate it by means of my invention from the foreign matter-such as heads, seeds, and other substaneeswith which it is intimately eombinedthat the product may be utilized in the manufacture of goods employing the finer grades of material. I have successfully treated wool cotton, and various kinds of hair and fiber. The liner grades of the material being treated are, during the operation of the machine, carried by a current of air into a blow-room, in which the rear end of the machine opens, while the coarser elements are arrested and descend to the floor or a suitable receptacle below the machine.

The nature and particular operation of the invention will be'pointed out in the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whicl1 Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a machine embodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side View of same; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the stop, and Fig. 4 is a modification of the trough J.

A denotes the sides of the machine, having in their upper front portion the endless feedapron C, mounted upon the rollers D, the for ward one of which receives its motion from a band-wheel, E, while the latter is rotated, ow-

apron 0 down into the trough, and then carry it over the rear edge of sameand deliver it to the picker-roller II. It will be observed that the trough F is in close relation to the feedapron G and roller H, this being important to the successful manipulation of thematerial. The roller His a plain cylinder, of suitable dimensions, having the surface provided with projecting pins to, and being journaled between the sides of the machine.

Below the plOkGlFlOllOl H are. attached on the sides of the machine the corresponding guides, I, in which are adjustably secured by headed screws 7), passing through the end flanges, d, the stop J, which is preferably a plain strip of metal-such as.boiler-ironhaving its ends trimmed off and bent down to form the flanges (Z. The stop J may be adjusted, as will readily be understood, in the guides I, according to the character of the stock passing through the machine; but I have usually found it advantageous to secure the stop in about the position illustrated, its edge being between a sixteenth and threesixteenths of an inch from the extremities of the passing pins on the picker-roller H. The feed-roller G has a toothed surface, and may be a solid casting, as a convenient method of construction. Below the feed-roller are the inclined ways K L, the former extending toward the front of the machine and forming practically an extension of the strip J, and the latter inclining rearwardly.

Over the feed-roller G and picker-roller H is provided the hood N, the front edge of which is forward of the feed-roller G, and within which (directly over the feed-roller) is furnished a concave extension, 0, the effect of which is to reverse the current of air created by the picker-cylinder, the hood then deflecting it toward the blow-room.

The troughF may be secured in position either rigidly or adjustably, as may be de sired. In Fig. 4 I illustrate the trough as being pivotally secured at its front portions, its rear end being sustained by a spring, f, which preservesthe front edge of the trough in near relation to the feed-roller, and at the same time gives to the quantity of material being passed through the machine. The same result may be effected if the trough is rigidly secured and the bearings of the roller G are held down by weights, the specific gravity of which, when an extra quantity of material is in the trough, will be overcome, allowing the roller to rise slightly. This construction is shown in Fig. 2, wherein g is the weight, which is hung upon the end of a lever, h, which bears upon the journal z of the ends of the roller.

Operation: The operative parts of the machinebeing-in motion, the stock is spread upon the feed-apron O, and is by it carried rearward to the roller G, which draws it continuously into the trough F, and carries it to a point within reach of the pins on the cylinder H, which, revolving rapidly-say at a speed of about two thousand revolutions a minute carries the finer elements of the stock in line with its motion, the coarse elements being brought in contact with the stop J, whereby their motion is arrested and they descend the inclines K L, and may be removed at will. The finer elements of the stock, which follow the picker-cylinder, are taken up by the current of air before mentioned, and carried into the blow-room. If hair, wool, or cotton is being fed to the machine, the finer grades will be separated from that more coarse and carried into the blow-room, while the coarse elements, wisps, and knotty foreign matter are kept separate and detained in convenient position to permit their removal at will.

One or more stops J may be employed, according to the character of the result sought to be accomplished, and, if desired, traveling aprons may be provided to remove the product from the blow-room during the operation of the machine.

It is of particular importance that I am enabled to clean cotton wastea material which has heretofore been regarded as almost valueless. By the process to which I subject it I secure a product which may be successfully employed in the manufacture of the finer class of goods. I take the waste in the exact condition in which it is found in commerce, and, without manipulation or treatment, subject it at once to the action of the picker. The result is that a separation of the elements takes place.

The coarse matter and refuse fall below the machine, while afine quality of cotton is blown out through the rear end of the machine. By this process I secure a product which it has been heretofore thought impossible to produce from cotton waste, and one which may be applied to uses to which cotton waste has never before been employed.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is-

' 1. The process hereinbefore described 'of treating cotton waste, which consists in separating its elements by subjecting it to the action of a picker-roller provided with a stop or stops, whereby the cotton is separated and blown from the machine, while the obnoxious elements are detained and discarded, substantially as set forth.

.2. In a machine for separating or disintegrating fiber, &c., the feed-apron, feed roller and trough, and picker-roller, combined with a current-defiecting hood, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for separating or disintegrating fiber, &c., the feed-apron, feed roller and trough, and picker-roller, combined with a stop and a current-deflecting hood, substantially as set forth.

, 4. In a machine for separating or disintegrating fiber, &c., the feed-apron, feed roller and trough, picker-cylinder, and adjustable stop, combined with the currentdeflecting hood and inclined ways, substantially as set forth.

grating fiber, &c., the feedapron, feed-roller and adjustable trough, picker-cylinder, and stop, combined with the currentdeflecting hood, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the feed-apron, feed roller and trough, picker-cylinder, hood, and stop J, which is adjustable in the segmental guides, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 26th day of June, A. D. 1883.

VILLIAM S. ARCHER.

\Vitnesses:

Guns. 0. GILL, HERMAN GUsrow.

5. In a machine for separating or disinte- 

